US bid to cripple N-program

8220;Issuing the entities list is a matter of procedure,8221; a senior administration official said, insisting that it would not be a setback to talks with the two countries on the nuclear issue.

The Commerce Department was yet to release the full list at the time of writing, but the list is said to contain government agencies like the Department of Atomic Energy and Defence Research Development Organisation, besides government-affiliated firms like Bharat Dynamics and semi-military installations like HAL.

In all the 40 Indian entities which are listed, detail nearly 200 sub-entities. The 46 Pakistani entities, including the well-known Khan Research Laboratories, involved 100 sub-entities.

8220;The list will make it clear to our companies what kind of trade is prohibited so that they won8217;t apply for licenses which will be denied,8221; the senior administration official said.The officials were unable to clarify what would happen to the US offices and personnel of these entities. Some of the entities like BEL have offices in New York, while ISRO and DAE have representatives in Washington attached to the Indian Embassy.

The officials acknowledged however that it was possible some of the entities may be 8220;miscast.8221; In that case, there could be review of the list depending on the information furnished by the Indian and Pakistani governments.

8220;We know this list will stir fresh controversy, but we have no choice but to implement the law. It is not a hit list or a black list. This should not derail or present an obstacle or become a cause celebre,8221; a senior official said. Meanwhile, officials also that the US had lifted curbs on lending by private American banks in India and Pakistan, even to host government and government entities. The President would sign an order to this effect next week and transmit it to the Congress enabling private American banks in the region to resume normal functioning, officials said.

IITs, Godrej, Lamp;T on the hit list

WASHINGTON: The main entities list, running into seven pages, covers every single major Indian entity remotely connected to defence or military related activity. For instance, under the head Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO, the sub-entities listed include Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore; Defence Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi; and Defence Materials and Store Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur.Among the private and parastatal entities listed are Godrej and Boyce Ltd; Kirloskar Brothers, Pune, Larsen and Toubro, Hazira and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd, Southern Petrochemicals, Walchand Nagar Industries.Some academic institutions have also been singled out: Among them are Mumbai8217;s Departments of Physics, Aerospace Engineering and Space Technology Cell. In addition, IIT Chennai8217;s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Space Technology Cell have also been listed.